Lithuania's governing party seeks fresh mandate in national polls

Chairman of the Lithuanian Homeland Union Gabrielius Landsbergis at a polling station during Parliamentary election in Vilnius, Lithuania 9 October 2016.

Photograph: EPA/Valda Kalnina

Half of the more than 2.5 million voters in the Baltic state of Lithuania went to the polls Sunday to elect a new parliament.

Polls closed at 8 pm local time (1700 GMT) and vote counting has begun, but exit poll data wasn't immediately available. First results were expected on Monday.

Voters were choosing 70 seats in the Seimas, the country's unicameral parliament, in a first round based on proportional party lists. A second round to elect a further 71 constituency members is due to take place in two weeks.

Opinion polls have the ruling Social Democratic Party out in front, but two opposition parties have good prospects.

Twelve parties and two electoral alliances are taking part in the polls.

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